Habari!
It is our first day in Nairobi, Kenya. We woke up to 27°C weather at Mama Rose’s house, a house on the outskirts of Nairobi and a few minutes away from Kibera. After a large breakfast, general chitchat, and copious amounts of ginger ‘chai’, we met Daniel. Daniel, who described himself best as ‘Nokia’, spends most his time connecting different aid workers and volunteers. If you need to know someone, chances are he knows them.
After drafting a letter for the head of the Boys’ Rehabilitation Centre (BRC), Daniel has been kind enough to volunteer to take it upon himself to talk to the man directly (the best way to get things done around here). He has also introduced us to Stavros, a do-it-yourself do-awesomer from Cyprus, who, on our exceptionally cramped mini-bus ride to the ‘Junction’, managed to still make a balloon for a baby on board. The bus ride was also something to behold. Primarily due to their height difference, Marzieh only had to bend her neck slightly, whilst Andrew had to contort his entire body. Please note: you must jump on/off the bus while it is in motion. Kenyans will also refer to Marzieh as Mzungu; a word used to refer to all white people, even though Marzieh is not actually white. The best is Andrew however, who, due to being-white-and-slanty-eyed, is referred to as Bruce Lee.
Quirky Kenyan vocabulary aside, Daniel is very excited about the education and food plans for the BRC, as are we. He will take us around other BRCs and orphanages, and introduce us to more people on the ground with whom we can make partnerships. We are so lucky to have met him!
Tomorrow we are going to spend the day at the Women’s Empowerment Centre (where Mama Rose also works!) after buying fabrics and threads from the market to teach a few of the women how to make the teddies! We will also head to the post office to get estimates of shipping costs. We’ve been assured the post will reach its destination ‘some of the time’. This will get the project rolling, and let us know roughly what UGCA’s income will be, and therefore how long we will need to implement the project completely.
For those curious ones of you out there, this is the order: providing adequate food/nutrition (as not only a necessity for cognitive development, but also as an incentive for the boys to remain in these centres), providing adequate sanitation (so the diseases are warded off), a home (a feeling of security and contentment) so that finally, the education programme will reach its maximum potential.
That’s all from us! Kwa heri!
